By the end of the 30th Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular which runs Aug. 25 to Sept. 3, there'll be a lot of fish eaten, beer drunk and anglers served.

How much fish, beer and how many anglers?

Molson's representative Geoff Blastorah did some estimating of that over the 30 years of the derby: More than 100,000 pounds of fish will have been consumed at derby fish fries, more than 1 million beers served and more than 150,000 anglers will have participated.

He was one of many speakers at the Sydenham Sportsmen's Association's clubhouse Thursday afternoon, a day to eat some fried fish, thank sponsors and take some of them out on the water to get a taste of what fishing is like in Georgian Bay.

Blastorah also estimated more than 1.5 million people will have passed through the derby and more than two million volunteer hours will have been completed by the end of the 30th derby.

The derby volunteers were thanked too by the derby organizers. One of the derby co-chairs, Fred Geberdt, himself a volunteer, said there are more than 400 volunteers whose efforts ensure the 10-day derby's success.

"It's a big, big event, it takes a whole year to plan it and make this thing happen," he said. "And making it happen for 30 years is a tribute to the organization that you're enjoying the hospitality of, the Sydenham Sportsmen's Club. And none of us take a penny out of what we get."

Information from the derby organizers said that money from sponsors and others fund the SSA fish hatchery program, which currently is nurturing about 180,000 Chinook salmon and rainbow trout.

In an interview, Geberdt confirmed the cost of running the derby had some committee members questioning the future of the event. But he said the derby will be back next year "100 per cent".

"Our major concern right now is the money we have to spend to run the event. I mean, security is a big one," he said. "We used to be able to have local people. They didn't have any kind courses or anything to run security. And we never used to hire off-duty police officers."

He said now it's costing $40,000 and $50,000 to hire security for the duration of the derby.

"We get that every year: 'Oh, I hear the derby's not on this year; I hear your hatchery's closed.' False."

When the fishing derby begins in three weeks, some 4,000 to 5,000 anglers are likely to register for the competition to catch the biggest fish and win prizes, a backgrounder about derby says.

Special events will be held each day of the derby, including Seniors' Day, Ladies' Day, Kids' Day, Sponsors' Day, Yamaha Day, Loonie-Toonie Afternoon and Sunday Breakfasts with Elvis.

The event starts at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 25, with the official opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. Derby weigh-in stations open daily at 10 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. except on the last day, Sunday, Sept. 3, when weigh-in stations will close promptly at noon. The awards presentation starting at 3 p.m. that day will feature more than $150,000 in prizes.